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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>From: Eli Turkel via Avodah
<avodah@lists.aishdas.org><BR><BR><<Until the Torah was given on
Sinai the Avos were not obligated to keep it<BR>...However, for the most part
they did keep the Torah even before it<BR>was given. Yosef and Moshe certainly
converted their wives, but to what? To<BR>monotheism and to
membership in the Abrahamite tribe -- not to Judaism,<BR>which didn't formally
exist until the Torah was given. [--TK] >><BR><BR>[1] what does it
mean that Yosef and Moshe converted theri wives? [2] They were the<BR>only
"Jews" around and certainly no bet din. [3] Yosef kept secret that he was<BR>a
son of Jacob and so its clear what his wife knew. [4 ] Did his wife also
keep<BR>"most of the Torah".<BR><BR>-- <BR>Eli Turkel</FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>[1] Already answered. It means "they converted their wives to
monotheism and to membership in the Abrahamite tribe." </DIV>
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<DIV>[2] Correct, already noted, "not to Judaism, which didn't formally exist
until the Torah was given."</DIV>
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<DIV>[3] You probably meant to write "it's NOT clear what his wife knew."
He did not keep his identity or his religious beliefs secret from his wife and
children. That is how Menashe and Ephraim were raised "Jewish" -- putting
it in quotation marks because Judaism didn't formally exist yet -- even
before the 11 brothers showed up and Yosef revealed himself to them. That
is how they were raised in the faith of the Avos and were tzaddikim when
Yakov came to Egypt, such that he recognized them as equal to his 12 sons even
though they had grown up in Egypt with an Egyptian mother. She was a "Jew"
(with quotation marks for the stated reason).</DIV>
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<DIV>[4] His wife probably kept most of the Torah, yes. </DIV>
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<DIV><B><BR><FONT color=#0000ff>--Toby Katz<BR>t613k@aol.com</FONT><FONT lang=0
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